LAST week, the government announced that Sino Metals Leach Zambia Limited and Rongxing Investment Limited will jointly pay K16.2 million in compensation to 507 farmers who were affected by the two mining companies’ pollution. This follows the discharge of pollutants into the Mwambashi River, a tributary of the Kafue River. This incident, which began in February with a tailings dam failure, released acidic waste containing heavy metals into the water system, damaging farmland, killing fish, and threatening public health across multiple districts, from Chambeshi and Kalulushi to as far downstream as Ngabwe District in Central Province. According to Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo, and Minister of Mines Paul Kabuswe, this K16.2 million payout is intended not only to cover the current...